Kids ARE the future!:)

During a rare tidy up at home (a REAL tidy up - not one of those where I find stuff months later that my dear partner has hidden it from view as visitors arrive), forced upon me because of the need to change cars recently, I found a copy of my will. Yeah, it's up do date, I thought - until i read it!!

Long story short is that is was hopelessly OUT of date and needs fixing. It's led me to consider making a bequest or two. One will be to the St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation. At least one other will be to the Sunrise Children's Village in Cambodia.

I don't know about you dear reader, but I've always thought that well-intentioned, well managed and accountable support programs for children should be encouraged and supported wherever possible.

I first heard about Sunrise Children's Village around 5 years ago from my friend Sue Liu, from Zulu Communications. Sue has visited the village at least once and raises funds for them back here in Sydney. Sue is passionate about a lot of things, but none more so than this great organisation.

Rather than read masses of stuff on my blog, take a look at their website and do what I've done - click the Like button on Facebook to keep up to date with what's happening there. This is from their website ("Geraldine"is Geraldine Cox AM, the founder):


The Sunrise Children’s Villages are two orphanages located in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Australia Cambodia Foundation started in September 1993, following the first visit by Geraldine and a friend in 1993. The orphanages are now known as Sunrise Children’s Villages and they care for hundreds of orphaned and disadvantaged Cambodian children.Our third Sunrise Children’s Village has commenced construction in Sihanoukville.

I can't imagine how many years of recovery are needed to make up for one year of war. I do know about the TRILLIONS of dollars spent after WW2, repairing and rebuilding nations, cities and towns after the horrific damage done by the war, especially in Europe and Asia . I've been to London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila in recent years and I see the result today, after 6 decades of growth. Hopefully the kids at SCV can grow up to enjoy similar prosperity after decades of hard work in Cambodia as well.

http://www.scv.org.au/

Living in the Moment: Dutch Village Offers Dignified Care for Dementia Sufferers

I've read a few version of this online and am posting what I think is the best version. This from a story on Spiegal Online, the website for Der Spiegal magazine in Germany. The story ran here in metro daily newspapers and I think I saw something on TV as well.

In short, this is a story about a purpose-built village in the Netherlands called Hogeway, where dementia patients can live out their lives with dignity and respect. it also manages the elements of the earlier stages of Alzheimer's Disease, where patients are still active and can be quite a handful for family members and carers, as they wander off or forget people, places and things in their lives


"Instead of isolating these people in care homes, Hogewey keeps them dry, fed and clean while still making arrangements for their individual wants and needs."

Jo Verhoeff, 85, is among 152 residents of Hogewey. Here she is shown sitting on her bed in her home, which she shares with other elderly people who suffer from dementia.

The idea for Hogeway was born when the workers at a nursing home were asked if they would like to see their own parents in a facility like that. the answer was no and Hogeway was developed. According to one of the photo captions in the story, a place in Hogeway costs about 5,000 euros per month, which is comparable to conventional convalescent homes that is paid by Dutch health insurers


This is a massively expensive health care problem all around the world, including here in Australia. It seems that, for the Dutch at least, the cost of such a facility is not a barrier. As we Baby Boomers grow older, more and more people are going to be affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. 

Enough from me. Please read the link in detail, because it's a beautiful story and I fear that dementia, like cancer does already, is going to touch most families before much longer, as our population ages. Make sure you take a minute or two and look through the photo gallery also.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,824582,00.html

Really great sports people are great PEOPLE, first and foremost.

This one is rather self-indulgent (really Trevor - YOU being self-indulgent??? lol), but I don't care, ok? :)

Last Friday was the Leader- Tynan Honda Sportstar of the Year Awards, for the St George and Sutherland regions of metro Sydney. You've got to be a really talented sportsperson to win at category or one of the Sportstar of the Year awards. The Senior Sportstar winner was world champion boxer Billy Dibb, for example.

This was my personal highlight from the event. This lady is Kelly Wren, aged 33, the winner of the Disability Sportstar award. Kelly won the ladies tennis singles, doubles, team event and mixed doubles at the INAS-FID Global games in Italy. Yes, ALL of those titles. What a great achievement, huh?

No sooner had Kelly left the stage after accepting her award than Ken Rosewall dashed across from his seat to meet her and spend some time chatting with her. The smile on Kelly's face says it all, as tennis legend Ken Rosewall went out of his way to acknowledge her achievement and give her his personal congratulations.

Ken Rosewall - a great sportsperson and a great person.

Lisa McMahon was on hand to capture the moment. Thanks for the pics Lisa:))